Saying Good Bye to Aunt Pearl

My Aunt Pearl died on November 2.

Truth be told, she died a few years before that when Alzheimer's took over her mind and body.

What died on November 2 was just a shell of a beautiful, talented woman.

Today we will have a small memorial service for her and her ashes will be laid to rest.

She has already been living it up in heaven for two weeks with all her brothers, sisters, mom, dad, and many, many friends, including my dad who was her brother in law by marriage.

I can only imagine the celebration that took place as she entered heaven.

What a gift it is to have faith.

What a comfort to all of us left behind.

 

The saddest survivor is my Uncle Herb.

He spent every minute of these last years in their room on the Alzheimer's unit in a nursing home.

He never wanted to leave her side for fear she would be scared and wonder where he was.

Finally, he is able to find comfort in the fact that she is at peace and whole again.

I believe that God's plan in this was to give him these past two years to get used to the idea of life without her.

God was preparing Herb for life without his beloved wife of 75 years.

If she had died suddenly and unexpectedly, it would have been much harder on him

Yep, God's plan is perfect all the time.

 

I have many happy memories of Pearl, who by the way, is my only Aunt.

She loved all things outdoors.

She could walk around their large lot and point out all the flowers, weeds, trees and shrubs.

She truly had a green thumb, things grew for her and thrived for years.

Courtney and Paul have many of her plants growing in their yard and so she will be alive in their yard forever.

She had long fingernails that loved the dirt.

She was a terrific cook.

She fried fish with the best of them and could make a feast out of many critters that Herb shot in their yard.

She baked wonderful cookies and other treats.

She and Herb had nothing when they had to get married, having to get married 75 years ago was not a very accepted thing.

My only cousin, their son was born the day they married.

They went from having nothing to making a wonderful life for their little family.

They worked very hard as did most people in that era.

They both had a wonderful faith which they shared.

 

So, today we will share some memories and shed a tear or two.

But most of all we will say, "Well done Pearl, we will see you soon."